[Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/keep.html) [home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [dictionaries](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/) / [The school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/) / keep [← K](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/K/) # keep «keep» in Mova's school dictionary: **to go on having it and not give it away** — its meaning for a pupil, its sense in the lessons and examples, with 5 sentences of Mova's corpora that use it. ### part of speech verb (keep, keeps, kept, keeping); noun (your keep — food and a home; «for keeps» — forever) ### meaning for a pupil 1) To keep something is to go on having it and not give it away. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/K/keep/#m1) 2) To keep doing something is to go on doing it. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/K/keep/#m2) 3) To keep something in a place is to store it there. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/K/keep/#m3) 4) To keep a promise or a secret is to not break it. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/K/keep/#m4) 5) To keep someone or something safe, warm or clean is to make it stay that way. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/K/keep/#m5) 6) Food that keeps stays good to eat. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/K/keep/#m6) 7) (casual) «For keeps» means forever; «keep it real» means be honest; «keep your hair on» (UK) means calm down. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/K/keep/#m7) 8) (rude) «Keep your nose out», «keep your hands off my stuff» are blunt warnings. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/K/keep/#m8) 9) (formal) Exams say «retain», «preserve», «maintain», «hold in reserve» or «remain in the possession of». [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/K/keep/#m9) 10) To keep watch means to stay awake and alert, looking out for danger. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/K/keep/#m10) ### sense in the lessons to hold some things back, so they stay with the actor; keeping changes no count; phrases: «keep on», «keep away», «keep out», «keep up», «keep a secret», «keep safe», «keep warm», «keep the change», «keep score»; in casual talk «keep it real», «for keeps», «keep ya hair on»; in rough talk «keep your mitts off my chips», «keep your gob shut»; in the exam voice «the number retained», «remaining in the possession of», «maintain a constant speed» ### examples - Sam keeps 3 stamps and gives the rest to Mia. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/K/keep/#x1) - Anna kept 5 of her 12 cookies. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/K/keep/#x2) - Ben keeps his marbles in 4 jars. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/K/keep/#x3) - Keep the change! [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/K/keep/#x4) - Keep going, you're nearly there! [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/K/keep/#x5) - Keep away from the edge of the cliff. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/K/keep/#x6) - Wear a hat to keep warm in the snow. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/K/keep/#x7) - Can I keep it? For keeps? [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/K/keep/#x8) - Keep your mitts off my chips, I've only got 6 left. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/K/keep/#x9) - Keep ya hair on, I'll give you 2. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/K/keep/#x10) - Of 12 cookies, the subject retains 5 and transfers the remainder. Ascertain the number transferred. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/K/keep/#x11) - Milk keeps for about a week in the fridge. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/K/keep/#x12) - To-night we'll both keep watch together." [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/K/keep/#x13) ### note Past: kept. Keeping changes no count; it tells how much stays, so «the rest» is the whole minus what is kept. «retain» in an exam means keep. «keep score» means count the points. Safety: a good secret is fun (a surprise party); a secret that makes you feel bad should be told to an adult you trust, even if someone says «keep your mouth shut». ### In the corpora - [Most grown-ups keep their money in a bank account, and most of it is never seen as notes and coins.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/adult-life/7-cards-banks-and-apps/0/) - [A subscription keeps taking money every month until it is cancelled, and free trials often turn into payments.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/adult-life/7-cards-banks-and-apps/17/) - [Banks offer children's accounts to keep savings safe and teach how banks work.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/adult-life/7-cards-banks-and-apps/19/) - [The minimum payment barely covers the interest, so paying only the minimum keeps a debt going for years.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/adult-life/8-borrowing-and-debt/13/) - [Date night is when a couple goes out together, just the two of them, which keeps their friendship strong.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/adult-life/13-dates-engagements-and-weddings/5/) ### Trees and pragmatics [Every meaning and example of «keep» parsed by Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/K/keep/), each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.